Puppy Marked for Death Shoots Man

P E N S A C O L A, Fla., Sept. 9, 2004 -- A puppy facing death along with the rest of his litter took matters into his own paws, police said.

Jerry Allen Bradford, 37, of Pensacola, allegedly had decided to kill seven puppies he had because he could not get rid of them any other way, Escambia County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Ted Roy said.

"He said that he could not give them away. He tried to give them away and he was unsuccessful so that was the alternative he used," Roy said.

Bradford allegedly shot and killed three of the puppies — 3-month-old shepherd-mixes, but when he tried to finish off the rest they wouldn't sit still for him.

The man told authorities he was holding one dog in his left hand and one dog in his right hand, but he couldn't control them, Roy said.

When the puppy in his left hand began to wriggle free, it put its paw on the gun's trigger, causing it to fire and the bullet hit the man in the wrist, Roy said.

When Bradford went to a hospital emergency room to get treatment, a doctor called authorities about the gunshot wound, the sheriff's department said.

The three puppies Bradford allegedly shot were found in a shallow grave with bullet wounds in their heads, Roy said.

The remaining four puppies and their mother are safe now at the Escambia County Animal Shelter.

"They're doing great," said Bruce Rova, a spokesman for the shelter. "The puppies are in good health. They're friendly."

Bradford is facing felony animal cruelty charges, Roy said.

"He was not arrested due to the fact he had that gunshot wound to the arm and the warrant will become active and he'll have to go to court and plead his case," Roy said.

Rova said he doesn't understand why anyone would think they had to shoot a dog just because they could not find a home for it.